Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins will have a lot on the line in 2014. Much of the year’s outcome will be decided by his past actions.

Although Watkins is unopposed in the March Democratic primary, six of his prosecutors are seeking state district judge benches in opposed primary races with his support. And Watkins’ top prosecutor, Heath Harris, is seeking to unseat the party’s chairwoman, Darlene Ewing, who has led the party to an undefeated record in contested races since taking over in 2005.

The results at the polls could either increase or diminish Watkins’ clout in county politics.

Then, in November, Watkins will face a general election challenge from either Republican Susan Hawk or Tom Nowak. Hawk resigned her position as a state district judge, where she ran her last campaign as a Democrat, to run for district attorney as a Republican after a challenge to her bench by one of Watkins’ prosecutors. Watkins fired Nowak after Nowak attended a Republican party on election night 2010, when Watkins won a by a narrow margin.

Also in 2014, the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas should rule on state District Judge Lena Levario’s dismissal of a mortgage fraud case that Watkins pursued against a wealthy oil family heir. Watkins was accused of prosecutorial misconduct in the case — pursuing the charges to help out a political benefactor. Levario held Watkins in contempt for refusing to testify at a hearing examining the allegations. He was acquitted months later.

One of Watkins’ six prosecutors running for felony court judgeships, Tammy Kemp, is seeking to unseat Levario.

Watkins’ office has also indicated that it could refile charges against the heir, Al Hill III.

The coming year won’t be a redo of 2013, but there will certainly be spillover.

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